Public Shipyards to Reach Workforce Goal of 33,500 By February After Hiring Spree

Public Shipyards to Reach Workforce Goal of 33,500 By February After Hiring Spree

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Dry Dock 1 is flooded during the undocking of USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) in May 2010. US Navy photo.

Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Dry Dock 1 is flooded during the undocking of USS City of Corpus Christi (SSN 705) in May 2010. US Navy photo.

SAN DIEGO – Public shipyards are on track to reach 33,500 full-time equivalent employees by February, thanks to a hiring spree meant to get the yards back on track after both sequestration and a high attrition rate eroded workforce capacity. Read More

Panel: U.S. Needs to Rethink Strategy to Defeat Radical Islam

Panel: U.S. Needs to Rethink Strategy to Defeat Radical Islam

ISIS fighters in Iraq. Reuters Photo

ISIS fighters in Iraq. Reuters Photo

Fourteen years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center the U.S. still has “no comprehensive strategy to defeat radical Islam” in Yemen, Iraq, Syria or any other place,” one of the key figures in the development of the 2007 surge strategy in Iraq said Thursday at the American Enterprise Institute during a roll out of a new report from the think tank. Read More

Navy Stands Firm on Supply-Based Carrier Presence Model, Joint Forces Will Cover Gaps

Navy Stands Firm on Supply-Based Carrier Presence Model, Joint Forces Will Cover Gaps

USS George Washington (CVN-73) and its strike group in 2013. The House voted to refuel the carrier rather than decommission the ship. US Navy Photo

USS George Washington (CVN-73) and its strike group in 2013. US Navy Photo

Two Navy officials met with lawmakers today to explain the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) for generating ready forces and the importance of sticking to the plan, which attempts to keep a stable maintenance and deployment cycle amid an uncertain world, despite the challenges associated with it. Read More

Carrier Ford's Maiden Deployment Could Face 2-Year Delay Due to Shock Trials

Carrier Ford’s Maiden Deployment Could Face 2-Year Delay Due to Shock Trials

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Nov. 17, 2013) – Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the James River during the ship’s launch and transit to Newport News Shipyard pier three for the final stages of construction and testing. The Ford was christened Nov. 9, 2013, and is currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipyard (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Aidan P. Campbell/Released)

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Nov. 17, 2013) – Pre-Commissioning Unit Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) transits the James River during the ship’s launch and transit to Newport News Shipyard pier three for the final stages of construction and testing. The Ford was christened Nov. 9, 2013, and is currently under construction at Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipyard (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Aidan P. Campbell/Released)

The Navy’s newest aircraft carrier may see a two-year delay in its maiden deployment, after Pentagon officials announced last month it would be put through shock trials before being allowed overseas. Read More

Admirals: Fleet Readiness Plan Could Leave Carrier Gaps, Overwhelm Shipyards

Admirals: Fleet Readiness Plan Could Leave Carrier Gaps, Overwhelm Shipyards

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) leads a formation of ships from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a maneuvering exercise on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) leads a formation of ships from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12 during a maneuvering exercise on Sept. 23, 2014. US Navy Photo

SAN DIEGO – The Navy is nine months into its new deployment model – the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (OFRP) – designed to keep carrier strike groups from unexpectedly long deployments and allow time for needed ship upkeep.

The plan promises to make life more predictable for sailors and maintainers, but service officials are already running into roadblocks that, if not addressed by Navy leadership and Congress, could exacerbate gaps in overseas carrier presence and further burden the maintenance community. Read More